Captain Sam's:
Although we were less busy than yesterday, we had a good day at Captain Sam's with 64 total birds (47 new and 17 recaps) of 18 species. We also got another first of season: a Blue-gray Gnatcatcher! These tiny blue birds very active, constantly flitting through foliage and fanning their long tails while foraging for small insects (despite the name, though, they don't actually catch many gnats). We've been hearing their wheezy calls around the station since the beginning of the season, but today was the first day one found its way into our nets.
We were able to age our gnatcatcher as hatch-year based on molt limits in its alula feathers and greater coverts. This species can only be sexed in summer when birds are in their alternate plumage - then, males will have a black angry eyebrow aka supercilium.
We had a furry visitor today too: a bobcat! Kiawah has a population of about 30-35 bobcats. This one has been fitted with a radio collar as part of Kiawah's bobcat GPS tracking study, which you can learn more about here. He stayed safely away from our nets and we admired him from a respectful distance.
Bobcat with a radio collar (Photo: AG)
-Sarah M.
Little Bear:
Today was quite a slow day. With only 38 birds captured today, 29 of those were newly banded birds. We had two new first for the site though! A Summer Tanager and a Blue Grosbeak! These two species were not captured at LB last year so it was a treat to see! These next few days seem like they will be slow, but I am hoping to at least another new species added to KIBS.
-Kristin
| Species | Captain Sam's | Little Bear | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New | Recaps | New | Recaps | |
Downy Woodpecker | - | 1 | - | - |
White-eyed Vireo | 3 | 3 | - | - |
Red-eyed Vireo | 6 | 1 | 3 | - |
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher | 1 | - | - | - |
Carolina Wren | - | - | - | 2 |
Veery | 2 | - | - | - |
Swainson's Thrush | 2 | - | - | - |
Gray Catbird | 2 | 2 | 5 | - |
Brown Thrasher | 1 | - | - | - |
Yellow-breasted Chat | 2 | - | - | - |
Ovenbird | 3 | 1 | - | - |
Northern Waterthrush | 3 | 3 | 2 | - |
Black-and-white Warbler | 1 | - | - | - |
Common Yellowthroat | 8 | 4 | 7 | 3 |
American Redstart | 6 | - | 2 | - |
Northern Parula | 2 | - | - | - |
Yellow Warbler | - | - | 1 | - |
Palm Warbler | - | - | 3 | - |
Prairie Warbler | 3 | - | 2 | - |
Summer Tanager | - | - | 1 | - |
Northern Cardinal | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
Blue Grosbeak | - | - | 1 | - |
Painted Bunting | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 |
| Today's Banding Stats | Captain Sam's | Little Bear | TOTAL |
|---|---|---|---|
| # Birds Banded | 47 | 29 | 76 |
| # of Recaptures | 17 | 9 | 26 |
| # of Species | 18 | 13 | 23 |
| Effort (net-hours) | 138 | 119.6 | 257.6 |
| Capture Rate (birds/100 net-hours) | 46.4 | 30.9 | 39.6 |
| # of Nets | 30 | 21 | - |
| 2020 Fall Cumulative Banding Stats | Captain Sam's | Little Bear | TOTAL |
|---|---|---|---|
| # Birds Banded | 1373 | 634 | 2,007 |
| # of Recaptures | 343 | 112 | 456 |
| # of Species | 44 | 43 | 51 |
| Effort (net-hours) | 4,626.31 | 2,421.45 | 7,047.76 |
| Capture Rate (birds/100 net-hours) | 37.1 | 30.8 | 34.9 |
| # of Days | 39 | 28 | - |
Banding Staff
Sarah Mueller (CS)
Sarah Stewart (CS)
Dan Errichetti (CS)
Kristin Attinger (LB)
Josh Lefever (LB)
